Day 1: Fez / Merzougua camelrid and povernight in the desert
We will meet you at your Fez riad or hotel, depart and transport (8
hours) over the Middle Atlas mountains through the cedar forests of
Ifrane, Midelt and the Ziz gorges towards Sahara, until the Erg Chebbi
dunes appear on the horizon. Our destination is the auberge (small inn)
29km from Merzouga, where you meet your camel guide and ride into the
dunes at sunset to the bivouac (camp). Upon arrival you will have a
traditional tagine dinner prepared under the evening stars. Climb the
dunes and watch the moon rise before retiring to your bed in the nomad
wool tent.
Day 2: Merzougua
Bivouac trekkers return
by camel at sunrise to the auberge for breakfast and shower. You can
chill out in the dunes or the auberge, or take your car and driver for
an off road tour around the Erg Chebbi. We\'ll stop to visit Nomad
families for tea if they are in the region, and you can explore as much
as you wish. The village of Hamlia is on your route, and is famous for
Gnaoua music. Stay in desert auberge with swimming pool. Includes
breakfast and dinner.
Day 3: Merzougua / Saghrou montain / Dades gorges
We\'ll drive off road today, traveling through the Saghro
mountains.Along the way we pass through folded exposed rock slabs of
fossils and we can stop and visit a fossil workshop for a closer look at
Sahara’s wonderful varieties of ancient life. Before Dades valley of a
thousand Kasbahs. You will pass through many Berber villages, and see
green riverside oasis and barren red hillsides clustered with kasbahs
(fortified dwellings that house many families and their livestock). Stay
in upper Dades valley auberge, with dinner on the terrace, overlooking
the valley gorge and gardens.
Day 4: Dades gorgres / Todra gorges
Our next destination is Tinehir,we\'ll have a visit to Todra Gorge,
where sheer limestone walls rise to 300 m in its narrowest part. After
lunch you can wander with a guide through palmeries, villages, gardens,
and kasbahs for a close look at traditional Berber ways of life. Visit
the market in Tinehir and old kasbah quarter. We will stay in an old
kasbah, with evening Moroccan dinner by the pool.
Day 5: Todra gorges / ait hani / imlchil / Fes
Our next destination is a drive off road (weather permitting) across the mountains to explore in the Village of Imlchil
where it’s happened each years on the end of month 8 / 27 until 1
Sptembre fistivale of the betrothal. This tradition goes back to the
time where Ait Hadiddou nomads, met once a year to exchange the products
of crops and livestock, and building alliances is gave birth to the
legend of the betrothed. It continued until today. The moussem also have
a festival of colective mariage & traditional music… and the remote
village we will contunue our drive through varied and preserved
landscapes. Arrival in Fez approximately 6 p.m. You will need to book a
hotel in Fes this night or we can book a medina riad including
breakfast.
FIVE DAYS / FOUR NIGHTS
There is a lot to see in the
desert and besides touring and camel trekking, our five days allow time
to immerse yourself in the most interesting sites and history of the Old
Salt Road, spend more time in the dunes and experience the culture of
desert Nomads and Berbers.
NB : Each one of our offers can be adapted to suit individual
needs. The Sahara is a mysterious, magical and powerful experience. You
will be accompanied by local and experienced nomad guides as well as
knowledgeable drivers who can increase your enjoyment in gaining a feel
for this special place.
Book this tour
Includes: Transport
by 4x4; experienced driver; ensuite rooms with air conditioning,
breakfast and dinner (vegetarians welcome); swimming stops (April to
September); personalised extended walks and exploration of oasis
palmeries and kasbahs, markets and medinas; camel trek to overnight in
nomad desert bivouac with guide and camels of course…
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